Five-dimensional cosmological models with massless scalar fields

Abstract

Simple cosmologies are constructed from solutions of the five-dimensional Einstein equations with a real massless non-self-interacting scalar field source. It is demonstrated that non-trivial cosmological models occur only if the metric of the homogeneous and isotropic three-space of the universe has non-positive constant curvature. For the case of flat three-space, it is further demonstrated that two classes of solutions result - one of which has a power-law type of expansion for three-space and contraction of the one-dimensional internal space, while the other class has an exponential expansion for three-space and exponential contraction of the internal space. The exponentially expanding solutions are the limiting case of the power-law expanding solutions. Hence, our model is consistent with a simple inflationary scenario.